Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 64:1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
Hear Me – What a wonderful prayer! Think about this reality for a moment, the God who lifts up mountains and imagined birds and painted meadows he would want to hear you. He can also protect you. Pray to him now. Ask Him to hear you.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Titus 2 – New Living Translation
Promote Right Teaching
2 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.
3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
9 Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Embrace. Ask God to use their work to encourage women to choose life for their children. Pray that they could faithfully share the hope of the gospel to women in need of hope.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
This the advent season. The time between Christ’s first and second coming. In this season we wait. We are waiting for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. His appearing is certain. His appearing will usher in a new age. A time in which there will be no sin. Evil will be eradicated. How can the promise of Christ’s return energize our labor while we wait for the blessed hope of Christs return? Can it energize our days now? This certain future reminds us that God has not forgotten us. He does not have us “spinning our wheels” in this life while we “wait.” He is as Paul told Titus creating for himself a people of his own possession. Think today of the blessed future that awaits you. You will one day have a new body untouched by sin. You will enjoy relationships with no envy. Your decisions will not be influenced by pride or a desire to get ahead. You will have all your heart desires, because your heart, your longings will be met in God and God alone. Let this glorious future give you energy for the good works that God has given you to do today.